Helmet

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The engraved decoration, which includes Qur'anic inscriptions, recalls that found on helmets dating to the last years of Mamluk rule, before the Ottomans conquered Egypt in 1517. The helmet is incised with the mark of the Ottoman arsenal, indicating that it was carried back to Istanbul as booty. The spike at the top, the spear-like fixture at the front, and mail are later North African additions, suggesting that the helmet was recycled for use in Sudan during the Mahdi uprising in the 1880s and 1890s.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art